Case Detail
Case Number:
ON/419/24
Cameron Smith #13, Leeds Rhinos
Competition:
Super League
Match:
Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos
Match Date:
2024-03-28
Incident:
Late contact on kicker
Decision:
Charge
Charge Detail:
Law 15.1 (i)
Dangerous Contact - A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.
Grade B
Sanctions:
1 Match Penalty Notice (Higher end of the sanction grade)
Decision On Charge
Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
• The MRP opinion is that the following:
o Could have moderated his behaviour the defending player fails to moderate his behaviour
o The nature and type of the contact is unnecessary and avoidable [could have avoided all contact with the player]
o Considerable flexion of head, neck or spinal column to opponent
• Therefore, the MRP are of the opinion that this is a reckless contact which carries a Grade
ranging from B to D.
• Assessing all those factors present within this particular incident, the Match Review Panel are
of the opinion that this necessitated a Grade B charge.
Flexion the head comes towards him and then away from him not minimal and knocks him off his feet
No moderation of his behaviour or avoiding action
Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:
Wrong grading
Bottom end of carelessness and should be Grade A
Minimal contact with him
Westerman caused me to change my run and was decelerating but couldn’t decelerate enough and it resulted in a very minor contact with the player- it was accidental and no malice in my actionsNo intent with Cameron he tried to avoid and slowed down its low impact and minimal force and it is not entirely his fault as he followed through with his kick- no risk of injury to the ball carrier who is not in a vulnerable position and the flexion to the head is minimal.
On field ref and touch judges all saw it and no penalty let alone
Decision:
£250
Reasons for Decision:
We take the view that this is careless- we cannot see significant flexion of the head or neck on the footage that we have seen. Mr Smith is not approaching the opponent at great speed
No HIA or injury to the player. The fact he went off his feet does not necessarily imply significant force.
The opponent would have seen Mr Smith coming and the contact came from the side and so this was not situation where the opponent was in a particularly vulnerable position.
The incident was not penalised in any way at the time.